Meet the Team

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 Karen is the founder and Director of Different Lens, a behaviour support practice grounded in the belief that understanding behaviour begins with truly seeing it—through curiosity, compassion, and a different lens. With over 17 years of experience, Karen began her career as an Occupational Therapist before moving to Australia, where she discovered her passion for behaviour support.

Her approach is rooted in empathy and observation. Over time, Karen began using video as a tool to better understand behavioural patterns—capturing the subtle cues and context behind actions. This unique practice gave rise to the organisation’s mission statement: “seeing behaviour through a different lens.” It’s a philosophy that now shapes every aspect of the work done by all at Different Lens.

Karen’s work supports both participants and those around them—families, educators, and support teams—helping build insight, connection, and emotionally safe environments. She has long used storytelling and analogies as powerful tools to help people make sense of behaviours, and in recent years has begun writing her own therapeutic stories to support participants in understanding their experiences in an affirming, empowering way.

As Director, Karen also holds a deep commitment to practitioner well-being. She recognises the emotional weight of working in behaviour support and is committed to ensuring that every member of her team feels supported, valued, and equipped to succeed in a sustainable and meaningful way.

Whether guiding a team, mentoring professionals, or working alongside participants, Karen leads with warmth, creativity, and an unwavering belief in the power of perspective.

Simone is our Office Manager— affectionately referred to as our “Chaos Coordinator”—and plays a vital role in the daily operations of our organisation. With a professional background spanning Early Childhood Education, Swim Teaching, and Administration, she brings a unique and well-rounded skill set that contributes significantly to the efficiency and effectiveness of our services.

Simone is responsible for managing the entire intake process, including handling referrals, overseeing the waitlist, and ensuring new participants are smoothly matched with a suitable Practitioner. Her organisational skills, clear communication, and attention to detail help create a streamlined experience for participants, families and staff.

As the central hub of our team, Simone ensures the office operates seamlessly and, perhaps most importantly, keeps everyone on track and accountable. 

Matt is a registered Psychologist and experienced Behaviour Support Practitioner who plays a key leadership role within our organisation. As our Clinical Lead, he provides expert guidance and oversight across our team, ensuring the highest standards of clinical practice.

In addition to his clinical work, Matt is involved in recruitment, forming one half of our recruitment team. He is known for his focus on compliance, process improvement, and comprehensive staff training—all of which contribute to a strong and well-supported workforce.

Matt is particularly passionate about reducing restrictive practices and has achieved significant success in supporting individuals to live more empowered and independent lives. His commitment to ethical, person-centred practice makes him a valued leader and mentor within our team.

Priya brings a rich background in both nursing and education to her role, combining clinical insight with a strong understanding of learning and development. Based at our Melton office in Ansa House, she plays a dual role as a dedicated Behaviour Support Practitioner and our Therapy Assistant Leader.

Affectionately known as our "pocket rocket," Priya is full of energy, compassion, and a genuine passion for supporting individuals through positive behaviour strategies. She is deeply committed to helping clients achieve meaningful, sustainable outcomes that enhance their quality of life and promote independence.

With an insatiable appetite for knowledge, Priya is continually seeking opportunities to expand her expertise. Whether it's professional development courses, workshops, or peer collaboration, she is always learning and growing to ensure she brings the best possible support to those she works with.

In her leadership capacity, Priya also mentors and guides our team of therapy assistants, fostering a culture of learning, support, and high-quality care. Her enthusiasm, dedication, and strong values make her an integral part of our team and a valued support for every client she engages with.

Mat is a highly experienced Psychologist and Behaviour Support Practitioner, bringing over 30 years of expertise to the field. Prior to joining Different Lens, Mat led the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) Behaviour Support team in the southern region for more than two decades.

With a deep understanding of complex behavioural needs and a genuine commitment to person-centred practice, Mat brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to our team. He is widely respected for his calm approach, clinical expertise, and ability to build strong, trusting relationships with those he supports.

Mat’s extensive background and leadership experience make him a valued mentor and an integral part of our clinical team.

Nicole supports people of all ages and abilities through kind, respectful, neuroaffirming Behaviour Support. With a background in Special Education and qualifications in Psychology and Social Work, she brings heart and experience to understanding communication, sensory needs, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and supportive environments.

Her approach is calm and practical—working with each person and their supports to find what feels safe, helpful, and realistic. She sees Behaviour Support as a shared journey, not a quick fix. Nicole aims to help people feel understood, supported, and confident in who they are and how they live their life.

 Krysia joined the Different Lens team in early 2024. Krysia is well regarded for her disability knowledge, having held a senior role with the Australian Network of Disability. Krysia was involved in developing online learning tools to assist disability services to improve their understanding of restrictive practice as part of the team at the office of professional practice. 

Krysia consulted with Graeme Simison in his research for the best-selling book Rosie Result and collaborated with the National Disability services in the development of their 'Zero Tolerance' restrictive practice learning bites. 

Krysia is on the board for the Weave performance group, for performers with or without a disability. 

Krysia is a passionate advocate in the areas of accessibility and in improving social and economic participation of people with a disability in employment. 

Cara is a warm, empathetic and highly experienced practitioner who brings with her over 20 years of experience supporting children, adolescents and adults, along with their families across a range of roles within the education, community health and local government sectors. Her professional background includes degree qualifications in Psychology, Teaching, Counselling and Sand Play Therapy, which she integrates holistically into her work.

Cara is a strong advocate for neuro-affirming Positive Behaviour Support and is passionate about empowering individuals and their families. She is deeply committed to working in partnership with families in ways that are respectful, individualised, practical and meaningful—ensuring that supports are tailored to meet people where they are, in ways that work best for them.

For the past nine years, Cara has worked as a Preschool Field Officer, supporting the inclusion of young children in early childhood education settings. She has extensive experience in building the capacity of teachers and families to create safe, supportive and inclusive environments.

Cara has a particular interest in working alongside neurodivergent individuals and their families, with a strengths-based lens. She has recently contributed to a national project with The Yellow Ladybugs, helping to develop early childhood resources to better identify and support autistic girls.

With her warm, personable and non-judgemental approach, Cara creates a safe and supportive space for families to feel heard, understood and empowered. She brings a broad skillset and extensive experience in inclusion and disability support, enabling her to guide families with confidence and compassion as they navigate challenges and celebrate strengths.

With a foundation in education support and a deep passion for helping children thrive, Zoe brings a fusion of lived experience and empathy to her work. As a Positive Behaviour Support Allied Health Assistant and Learn to Play Practitioner, Zoe supports children in building confidence, emotional regulation, and social connection through play-based approaches. Zoe is currently furthering her knowledge by studying a Master's in Therapeutic Child Play, which is enriching her practice and fostering deeper therapeutic insights. Zoe believes every child deserves to feel seen, safe, and supported, and she is committed to walking alongside them—and their families—on that journey!

James brings a wealth of experience to Different Lens, having spent seven years working as an Integration Aide within the education sector. During this time, he not only supported students directly but also took on a leadership role, guiding a team of aides and spearheading a range of projects focused on inclusion and fostering meaningful social connections among students.

James is a passionate and forward-thinking professional, known for his calm and grounded presence. His commitment to creating inclusive environments and promoting positive peer relationships aligns closely with the values of Different Lens.

In his role with us, James supports the implementation of a variety of programs, drawing on his extensive experience to enhance outcomes for participants and contribute to the ongoing success of our initiatives.